Gebhaed beck



G. BECK.

LAMP WICK.

Patented Feb. 14,1882

(No Model.)

www

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEBHARD- BECK, OF WAGO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE D. STREETER, QF SAME PLACE.

LAM P-wlcK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,666, dated February 14, 1882.

Application filed September 9, 1881. (N o model.)

To all lwhom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEEEARD BECK, a citizen of Germany, residing at "Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas7 have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Wicks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention' is to produce au im proved non-combustible permanentlampwick, and relates Ymore especially to an improvement upon the lamp-wick for which Letters Patent were granted to me April 8, 1879, No. 214,085, wherein the lamp-wick is composed of one or more layers of parallel threads of fine-spun glass inclosed in textile material, the whole being sewed together by a series of parallel longitudinal stitches.

The improvement consists in forming the lamp-wick of one or more layers of mineral wool inclosed iu artextile material, the whole being sewed together by a series ot parallel longitudinal stitches.

As is well known, mineral wool is the slag from a blast-furnace blown into tibers by a jet of steam or air, and consists essentially of a double silicate of alumina and lime, the composition ot which varies much according to the nature of the earthy matters in the ore and the composition of the iiux. Its color is generally opaque white streaked with blue, green, or brown, and resembles asbestus.

Prior to my invention a non-combustible lamp-wick has been made o mineral wool mixed with a refractory cementsuch as soluble glass-in the proper proportion to form a plastic mass, which is then pressed or molded into the required shape. These said non-combustible lamp-wicks are usually made in the form of short heads, which t the mouth of the wick-tube, and which rest upon a packing of cotton, by means of which the burning-duid is raised to the non-combustible head. lt has been proposed, however, to extend these refractory wicks through the wick-tube into the oil-reservoir of the lamp; but practically a wick of such character is of but little value, since the cement employed tends to diminish to too great an extent the capillarity of the wick. Hencethedifterencebetweensuch lampwick and one made in accordance with my iuventionwill be apparent, since I employ no ce ment, but simply inclose the mineral wool in a textile fabric and secure the same by rows of parallel stitches, thus protecting and holding vention.

the mineral wool without cement, and at the same time providing a covering or envelope which serves as an auxiliary to the inclosed filaments.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a lamp-wick made in accordance with my in- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

A flat layer or layers ofthe mineral wool, of the desired length ot' the wick, is placed between some textile fabric A A-by preference cotton goods-and the whole then sewed together by the longitudinal stitching c a, so as to form parallel seams at short distances apart. For thus sewing the Wick I prefer to employ the well-known chain-stitch, although other form of stitches can be used. A wick is thus formed with a series ot' parallel channels, each of these inclosing a body, B, of the mineral wool. This wick can be used in lamps like the ordinary cotton or other fabrics, either flat or tubular. The upper end of the wick is cut off straight and at right angles to the length of the wick, and may be provided with one or more cross-seams, C, to hold the inclosed material of the wick more firmly in the proper position. p

After the wick has been placed in the wicktube of a lamp and then lighted at its upper end, the cotton above the wick-tube will rapidly burn ed', thus exposing the mineral wool, which, by reason of its capillarity, together with the lower part of the wick being immersed in lthe oil, will give a sufiicient quantity ot' the fluid to support combustion and give a good 9o light.

As the mineral wool is non-combustible, the wick will only need an occasional slight rubbing or brushing to keep it in the proper condition for burning.

What I claim is- A lamp-wick consisting ot' one or more layers of mineral wool inclosed in a textile material, the whole being sewed together by a series of parallel longitudinal stitches, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GERHARD BECK.

Witnesses:

E. W. KRAUsE, W. K. TOWNSEND.

IOL) 

